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Our governance

The Council for Science and Technology (CST) was reconstituted in 2011 with new terms of reference, a new membership and a new way of working.

Ways of working

The council has 2 chairs. Sir Mark Walport occupies 1 of the chairs in his role as Government Chief Scientific Adviser. Professor Dame Nancy Rothwell is the independent co-chair.

The CST work programme is developed by its members in discussion with the government. The government can ask CST to consider particular issues, but the council is under no obligation to agree to these requests if it believes that other work would be of greater value.

The council decides the approach to each area of work on a case-by-case basis. It can also provide advice to government as it thinks best, for example through meetings, letters or published reports.

The code covers all of the committee’s work including role, remit, responsibilities of members, chairs and secretariats, working practices, and publication of documents. It ensures that the committee works openly and transparently.